Wednesday, January 21, 2015

No questions asked

There is an empty house opposite ours.
Nobody has lived there for years now.
The only reason why it hasn't fallen to disrepair is because a relative of the owner comes and looks in once in a while

There are three trees there
One inside the house and two outside
The one inside is a red hibiscus

.

The two outside are parijata

Nobody looks after them
Nobody waters them
Except the rain

And nobody knows why
The three trees survive
Not only survive but flower
Not only flower, but flower
So generously
So unfailingly
That every morning, people come
And pluck the flowers
The hibiscus off from the tree
The parijata from the ground
Fallen like fragrant white-and-orange snow

All kinds of people.
Many people
Many, many people
All through the morning
They pluck
They peck
They snatch
(They say it is for the Gods...)
Till all the flowers are gone
Even the hibiscus buds

Till the next morning...
When once again
The trees are ready
With the flowers
For the people who come
Many, many people